Category: Adverse Childhood Experiences

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, it’s a meaningful time to pause and reflect — not only on the challenges so many of us face, but also on the remarkable strength that carries us through them. For many, mental health is intertwined with a deeper story — one shaped by early experiences of pain,…

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Yet, so many people struggle in silence due to stigma and fear. This month, let’s commit to:🌱 Speak openly about mental health🌱 Support those who are struggling🌱 Spread hope and build resilience ✨ Remember: Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. #MentalHealthAwareness #YourJourneyMatters

Have you ever had a reaction that felt “too big” for the situation? Maybe someone made a harmless comment, and suddenly you felt angry, anxious, or like you needed to run. That may have been an emotional trigger. Emotional triggers are like little alarms inside us — signals that a past wound has been touched.…

I’ve always admired runners, but I never truly believed it was something I’d enjoy. Sure, I signed up for the occasional race here and there and even did a few parkruns at Woodlands Parkrun while I lived in Johannesburg — but I never truly connected with it. Still, I admired the dedication, the discipline, and…

School is often seen as a place for learning, growth, and stability. But for many children growing up with trauma, school can feel like just another battlefield. When the mind is busy surviving, it’s hard to focus on math homework or remember what the teacher just said. If you’ve ever struggled to concentrate in class,…

Finding strength through community is often the missing piece in the childhood trauma recovery journey. Healing from early emotional wounds—especially those shaped by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—isn’t something we’re meant to do alone. While therapy and personal reflection are essential, true transformation often happens when we feel supported, understood, and connected. In a world that…

Have you ever heard someone say, “I have a high ACE score” and wondered what that actually means? The ACE score — short for Adverse Childhood Experiences score — is a simple but powerful tool that helps us understand how early life experiences may shape our health, behavior, and emotional well-being later in life. It’s…

Curious about how your childhood experiences may be shaping your health today?This brief, anonymous ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) questionnaire helps you reflect on the early life challenges you may have faced. It takes less than 2 minutes, and your responses are completely private—no contact information is collected. Want to understand what your ACE score means?…

In my previous post, I explored what Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are — traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction that occur before the age of 18. But ACEs don’t just stay in childhood. They quietly shape the way we think, feel, and function throughout adulthood — often without us realizing it. In…

Welcome to Mental Wellness Journeys — a space dedicated to helping you understand and heal from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).Through research, insights, stories, and tools, we explore how childhood impacts our emotional, mental, and physical well-being — and how healing is possible.